After Extraction of Wisdom Teeth
In most cases, the removal of wisdom teeth is performed under local anesthesia and IV sedation. These options, as well as the surgical risks, will be discussed with you at your consultation appointment, and appropriate prescriptions will be provided if necessary.
Once the teeth are removed, the gum is sutured. To help control bleeding you will bite down on gauze placed in your mouth. Once discharge requirements have been met, you will be released to your escort, usually a parent or guardian, or family member. Upon discharge, your postoperative kit will include postoperative instructions, gauze, and a syringe. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at.
Our services are provided in an environment of optimum safety. We utilize modern monitoring equipment and our staff is experienced in anesthesia techniques.
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- What will I feel like after wisdom teeth removal surgery?
- Are there any problems after the extraction of wisdom teeth?
What will I feel like after wisdom teeth removal surgery?
On the first day after wisdom teeth removal surgery, you may experience some minor bleeding and pain. A variable amount of swelling can be expected following the surgery. This swelling usually peaks on the third day. You can limit the amount of swelling you will have by using ice for the entire first day. The more ice you use the first day, the less swelling you are likely to have on the second day.
On the third day, you will notice that your jaw muscles are stiff, and it is difficult to open your mouth normally. You can apply moist heat to your face on the second and third day allowing your muscles to relax more and open wider.
You will want to limit your activities for a few days. We ask that you follow your post-operative instructions closely. Doing so will make you as comfortable as possible during the first few days following your procedure. Please allow time for your body to begin healing before resuming an active social, academic, or athletic schedule. Most patients feel like they are on their way to recovery in 3 to 5 days.
Are there any problems after the extraction of wisdom teeth?
As with any medical procedure, there can be complications or an unanticipated result. Some complications that patients undergoing wisdom tooth extraction may experience include:
After the procedure, our assistants will review your post-operative instructions with your escort. We ask that you follow these instructions closely, as they will make you most comfortable following your procedure. If you were sedated, you will be comfortable and drowsy when you leave the office. Most patients prefer to go home and rest with no other physical or scholastic activities planned for a few days. With any medical procedure, there can be unexpected results.
These can include delayed healing, infection, and post-operative numbness or tingling in your lip, chin, or tongue. Dr. Cornejo will review relevant post-operative events with you and answer any questions during your office visit.

Damage to Sensory Nerve:
A primary concern is a nerve within the lower jaw bone that supplies feeling to the lower lip, chin, and tongue. This nerve is frequently very close to the roots of the lower wisdom teeth. Having these teeth out between the ages of 12 and 18 usually provides shorter roots so that the nerve is not so close to the roots of these teeth.
Occasionally, when the teeth are removed, and especially in older patients, the nerve can become injured. When local anesthesia wears off, you may experience a tingling or numbing sensation in the lower lip, chin, or tongue. Should this occur, it is usually temporary and will resolve gradually over a period of weeks or months.
On rare occasions, it can result in a permanent alteration of sensation similar to having local anesthesia. We feel that you should be aware of this possibility before consenting to surgery.

Sinus Communication:
The upper wisdom teeth are situated close to your sinuses, and their removal can result in an opening between your mouth and the sinus. Once again, if the teeth are removed at an early age, the root formation is minimal, and this complication is very unlikely.
However, if it does occur, it will usually close spontaneously, but we may give you special instructions to follow, such as avoiding blowing your nose for two or three days following the surgery. You can wipe your nose, but don’t blow your nose. If you have to sneeze, you should sneeze with an open mouth into a tissue. Pressure should not be created in the sinus area, which may dislodge the healing blood clot. If you sense this condition occurring after the surgery, please contact the office. An additional procedure may RARELY be necessary to close the opening.

Infection:
Occasionally, post-operative infections occur. This usually requires an office visit and clinical examination. Many times, just placing you on an antibiotic for one week will take care of the infection. If it persists, the area will have to be drained and cleaned. Other temporary problems you may experience in the post-operative period include stiffness of the jaws, chafing around the corners of your lips, facial bruising, and blood oozing from the extraction sites.
The post-operative instruction sheet we will provide should answer many of the questions related to these more common concerns. If not, don’t hesitate to call the office at Winter Haven Oral Surgery office Phone Number 863-294-7648.